Safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehicles

ABSTRACT

A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in a vehicle, which is so designed that when a door of the vehicle is opened and closed, energy is accumulated in a spiral spring through a transmission shaft which is driven by the door opening and closing operation or a motor, and the accumulated energy is supplied to a pulley having a tape connected thereto at one end, the other end of which is connected a belt webbing, to rotate the pulley, whereby the belt webbing is drawn up from its engaging position by way of the tape.

nite States Patent 1 Kaneko et al.

SAFETY BELT WINDING ENERGY ACCUMULATOR DEVICE FOR USE IN VEHICLESInventors: Yuichiro Kaneko; Fuminori Teraoka; Tatsushi Kubota; TakehikoNisliikawa, all of Aichi, Japan Kabuswh k -Ka ATokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakuslio, Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi-Dref., JapanFiled: Oct. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 301,491

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 4, 1971 Japan 46-87870 US. Cl.280/ 150 SB, 242/107.7 Int. Cl. B60r 21/ 10 Field of Search 280/150 SB;242/107.4,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,391,840 12/1945 Meletti242/l07.7 2,726,826 12/1955 3,206,137 9/1965 Snyderman 242/107.73,679,229 7/1972 Weststrate 280/150 SB Primary Examiner-Robert R. SongAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [57] ABSTRACT Asafety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in a vehicle,which is so designed that when a door of the vehicle is opened andclosed, energy is accumulated in a spiral spring through :a transmissionshaft which is driven by the door opening and closing operation or amotor, and the accumulated energy is supplied to a pulley having a tapeconnected thereto at one end, the other end of which is connected a beltwebbing, to rotate the pulley, whereby the belt webbing is drawn up fromits engaging position by way of the tape.

8 Claims 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmazmn FIGQB FIG'.9

SAFETY BELT WINDING ENERGY ACCUIVIULATOR DEVICE FOR USE IN VEHICLESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a safety beltwinding energy accumulator device for use in vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is toprovide a safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use invehicles, by which a safety belt restraining the body of a passenger isdrawn up and cleared away from the passengers way when the passengergets out of the vehicle, whereby alighting of the passenger from thevehicle is facilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a vehicle equipped with a safety belt and the safety beltwinding energy accumulator device of the invention, with a door adjacenta drivers seat being opened and a door adjacent an assistant driversseat being closed;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view for explaining the operation of the belt;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the belt driving portion;

FIG. 4 is a set of views showing the construction of the belt drivingportion, in which FIG. 4(a) is a plan view and FIG. 4(b) is a sectionalview;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing the construction of the energyaccumulator device, of which FIG. 5 is a plan view and FIG. 6 is asectional view;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the one-way clutch shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a wiring circuit diagram; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the energyaccumulator device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a safety beltand an embodiment of the safety belt winding energy accumulator deviceof the invention, a door adjacent a drivers seat being in its openedposition, a door adjacent an assistant drivers seat being in its closedposition and the safety belt for the assistant drivers seat being in aposition to restrain a passenger sitting on said seat. FIG. 2 is anillustrative view for explaining the operation of the belt, the phantomlines indicating the door in its closed position. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 designates a belt webbing having oneend lla thereof anchored to an anchor plate 3 fixed to the centralportion 2 of the body of a vehicle, with the other end 1b connected towinding means 5 provided at the lower portion of a door 4. The door 4operates as a driving source for the accumulator in this device.Reference numeral 6 designates a tape extending along the door 4, withone end adhesively bonded to the belt webbing l and the other endsecured to a tape winding pulley 9 at the driving portion of a safetybelt winding energy accumulator device 8 which is mounted in thedashboard 7 of the vehicle and will be described later. Referencenumeral 10 designates guide rollers for the tape 6 which are rotatablymounted on spindles fixed between base plates of the safety belt windingenergy accumulator device 8.

Now, one embodiment of the safety belt winding energy accumulator device8 will be described. In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 11 designates arod to transmit the opening or closing motion of the door 4 to thedriving portion of the safety belt winding energy accumulator device 8mounted in the dash board 7. One end of the rod 11 is connected to thedoor 4 through a joint 12 and the other end thereof is connected to afirst sector gear 14 through a ball joint 13. This first gear 14, asshown in FIG. 4, is pivotably mounted at one end on a shaft 17 betweenthe base plate 15 and a bracket 16, so that its toothed arcuate edgeportion may be pivotally movable along oscillation preventing guides 19provided on a bracket 18 and the base plate 15. Reference numeral 20designates a shaft which has the opposite ends joumaled in the bracket18 and a base plate 21 respectively. On the shaft 20 is fixedly mounteda second gear 22 meshing with the first gear 14 and a third gear 23 formeshing engagement with one-way clutch members 24, 25 (FIGS. 5 and 6) tobe described later. Turning now to FIGS. 5 through 7, reference numeral26 designates a shaft joumaled in the base plates 15, 21 and havingone-way clutch members 24, 27 loosely mounted thereon, each of saidclutch members 24, 25, 27 having peripheral teeth. for meshingengagement with the third gear 23. These one-way clutch members 24, 27constitute a clutch mechanism A as shown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7,the one-way clutch member 24 forms a ratchet 24a which is nor mallyengaged by a pawl 28 provided in the one way clutch member 27. Referencenumeral 29 designates a main shaft operating as a transmission shaft andloosely extending through the base plate 21, with the opposite endsthereof joumaled in the base plates 15, 30 respectively. On the mainshaft 29 are loosely mounted the one-way clutch member 25 havingperipheral teeth for engagement with the third gear 23 and a one-wayclutch member 31 having peripheral teeth for engagement with the one-wayclutch member 27. The oneway clutch members 25, 31 constitute a clutchmechanism B similar to the clutch mechanism A. Namely, as shown in FIG.7, the one-way clutch member 25 forms a ratchet 25a and a pawl 28provided in the one-way clutch member 31 is normally held in engagementwith said ratchet 25a. Reference numeral 9 designates a tape windingpulley on which the tape 6 or a wire is wound as stated previously. Thetape winding pulley 9 is open at one side and is formed at the otherside with a ratchet 9a which is engaged by a reverse rotation preventingpawl 33 provided on the base plate 30 and connected to an operating rod32a of .a solenoid means 32. This tape winding pulley 9 is looselymounted on a stem 31a of the one-way clutch member 31. Reference numeral34 designates a barrel drum disposed in the tape winding pulley 9 andaccommodating a spiral spring 36 therein. This barrel drum 34 is looselymounted on the main shaft 29 at its stem 34a and has formed in the outersurface of its stem 34a slots 34b for engagement with projections of aclutch 35 to be described later. The outer end of the spiral spring 36is anchored to the inner end of the barrel drum 34 through an excesswinding preventing mechanism, while the inner end thereof is anchored tothe stem 31a of the one-way clutch body 31. Reference numeral 37designates a pulley ratchet partially received in the open side of thetape winding pulley 9, with the outer surface secured to the innersurface of said pulley 9 by means of screws 38 and the inner surfacethereof in loose engagement with the stem 34a of the barrel drum 34.This pulley ratchet 37 is formed with pawls 37a for engagement with theclutch 35 and also with a spiral groove 37b in the upper surfacethereof. The clutch 35 is loosely mounted on the main shaft 29, with thelatter extending through an axial hole thereof and is formed at itslower side with pawls 35a for engagement with the pawls 37a of thepulley ratchet 37. The pawls 37a of the pulley ratchet 37 and the pawls35a of the clutch 35 constitute an intermittent motion clutch for thetape winding pulley. The clutch 35 is formed at its intermediate portionwith a groove 35b for receiving rollers 40 carried on a clutch arm 39 tobe described later, and also formed at its upper side with pawls 35c forengagement with pawls 41a of a clutch 41 fixed to the base plate 30. Thepawls 41a of the clutch 41 and the pawls 35c of the clutch 35 constitutea clutch mechanism for fixing and releasing the barrel drum 34. Further,the clutch 35 is formed on the inner surface thereof with projections35d for engagement with the slots 34b formed in the stem 34a of thebarrel drum 34. The clutch arm 39 is pivotably supported on the baseplate 30 through a clutch arm holder 42 and connected to an operatingrod 43a of solenoid means 43 which is fixed to the base plate 30, withthe latter received in a groove formed in an intermediate portionthereof. Also fixed to the base plate 30 is a spring holder havingdisposed therein a spring by which the clutch arm 39 is urged upwardly.Reference numeral 44 designates a switch fixed to the base plate 30.This switch 44 is provided with an actuator lever 46 having an actuator45 which is slidably received in the groove 37b of the pulley ratchet 37to detect the rotation of said pulley ratchet 37.

The safety belt winding energy accumulator device constructed asdescribed above will operate in the following manner:

Namely, when the door 4 is opened, the opening motion of the door istransmitted through the connecting rod 11 to the first gear 14, causingsaid first gear 14 to rotate in a clockwise vdirection about the shaft17, which in turn causes the second gear 22 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction about the shaft 20. Therefore, the third gear23, fixedly mounted on the shaft 20, also rotates in a counterclockwisedirection together with the second gear 22, and hence the one-way clutchmembers 24, 25 meshing with the third gear 23 rotate in a clockwisedirection respectively. When the oneway clutch member 25 rotates in theclockwise direction, the ratchet 25a of said one-way clutch member 25 isbrought into engagement with the pawls 28 formed in the one-way clutch31 and, by this clutch action, said one-way clutch body 31 rotates in aclockwise direction together with the one-way clutch body 25 whilewinding the spiral spring 36 fixed to the stem 31a of said one-wayclutch member 31. In this case, since the oneway clutch members 24 and27 are rotating in the opposite directions to each other clue to theclutch action, the one-way clutch member 27 rotates in acounterclockwise direction incident to the rotation of the oneway clutchmember 31.

On the other hand, when the door 4 is closed, the closing motion of saiddoor is transmitted through the connecting rod 11 to the first gear 14to cause said first gear 14 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction,so

that the second gear 22 and third gear 23 rotate in a clockwisedirection respectively and the one-way clutch bodies 24, 25 rotate in acounterclockwise direction respectively. In this case, the one-wayclutch member 27 rotates in the same direction as the one-way clutchmember 24 as a result of clutch action and the one-way clutch members 25and 31 rotate in the opposite directions to each other as a result ofclutch action. Therefore, the one-way clutch member 31 rotates in aclockwise direction incident to the rotation of the oneway clutch member27 while winding the spiral spring 36 fixed to the stem 31a of theone-way clutch member 27.

Thus, the one-way clutch member 31 rotates always in a clockwisedirection in either case when the door 4 is opened or closed, and hencethe spiral spring 36 is always wound up.

Now, the tape winding and unwinding operation will be described. Whenthe solenoid means 43 is in the deenergized state, the clutch 35 cannotrotate in a clockwise directon as it is meshing with the clutch 41 fixedto the base plate 30, through the rollers 40 of the clutch arm 39 whichis urged upwardly by the spring. The barrel drum 34 cannot rotate in aclockwise direction either, because the projections 35d of the clutch 35are engaged in the slots 34b formed in the stem 34a of the barrel drum.In this case, while the clutch 35 and the tape winding pulley 9 are outof engagement with each other, the tape winding pulley is not rotatablein a counterclockwise direction since the ratchet 9a formed along theperiphery of said tape winding pulley 9 is engaged by the pawl 33connected to the operating rod 32a of the solenoid means 32.

The passenger when getting out of the automobile opens the door 4 whilesitting on the seat, so that the door switch 48 is opened, with the seatswitch being held in its onposition, and the solenoid means 43 isexcited. With the solenoid means 43 excited, its operating rod 43adepresses the central portion of the clutch arm 39, releasing theengagement between the clutches 35 and 41 and concurrently bringing thepawls 35a of said clutch 35 into meshing engagement with the pawls 37aof the pulley ratchet 37. Further, concurrently with disengagement ofthe clutch 35 from the clutch 41, the barrel drum 34 rotates in aclockwise direction, causing the tape winding pulley 9 to rotate throughthe clutch 35 while winding the tape 6 or the wire. After apredetermined length of the tape or wire has thus been wound up, aswitch LS, is opened and the solenoid means 43 is deenergized. By thetape winding operation, the belt 1 is also cleared from the seat andwill not interfere with the passenger alighting from the automobile.

ln the case when the passenger gets into the automobile, the passengersits on the seat and then closes the door 4, so that the seat switch 47is closed and the door switch 48 is also closed, with the result thatthe solenoid means 32 is excited. Upon excitation of the solenoid means32, the pawl 33 is released from engagement with the ratchet 9a by theaction of the operating rod 32a, so that the tape winding pulley 9 isset free, allowing the winding means 5 provided at the lower portion ofthe door 4 to wind the tape 6 and belt 1. Thus, the tape 6 is completelyunwound from the tape winding pulley 9 which is rotated in acounterclockwise direction by said tape and the belt 1 is placed in itsengaging position to restrain the passengers body.

The number of revolutions of the tape winding pulley 9 in this case isdetected by the detector switch 44 by way of its actuator 46 having oneend 45 in engagement with the pulley ratchet 37.

Although the safety belt winding energy accumulator device describedabove is operated mechanically, it may alternatively be operatedelectrically. Namely, according to another embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 9, the accumulator device comprises an electric motor forwinding the spiral spring, the other construc tion and function of thisembodiment being the same as the preceding embodiment.

In FIG. 9 reference numeral 49 designates a miniature motor as a drivingsource having a Worm 50 mounted on a drive shaft thereof. This motor 49is fixedly mounted on the base plate 21. Reference numeral 51 designatesa shaft having the opposite ends journaled in the base plates 15, 21respectively. A worm wheel 52 meshing with the wonn 50 of the motor 49and a gear 53 are fixedly mounted on the shaft 51. Reference numeral 54designates a gear loosely mounted on the main shaft 29 in meshingengagement with the gear 53. This gear 54 is provided with reverserotation preventing pawls 54b at the root portion 54a of a stem thereofand has the inner end of the spiral spring 36 fixed to an end portion540 of said stem. Reference numeral 55 designates a reverse rotationpreventing ratchet to be engaged by the pawls 54b of the gear 54, whichis pivoted to the base plate 21. Though not apparent, a switch isprovided adjacent the spiral spring 36, which controls the motor 49 upondetecting the amount of winding of the spiral spring 36. The otherconstruction is the same as in the first embodiment. The embodiment ofthe construction described above operates in the following manner:Namely, when the motor 49 is set in motion upon actuation of the controlswitch (not shown) into its closed position, the worm wheel 52 rotatesin a counterclockwise direction and the gear 53 coaxial with said wormwheel also rotates in the same direction. Thus, the gear 54 meshing withthe gear 53 rotates in a clockwise direction incident to the rotation ofsaid gear 53, winding the spiral spring 36 fixed to the end portion 540of the stem of said gear 54. When the amount of winding of the spiralspring 36 has reached a predetermined value, the motor control switch isopened and the motor 49 stops rotating. In this case, a reverse rotationof the gear 54 by the unwinding force of the spiral spring 36 isprevented by the ratchet 55.

As may be understood from the description herein, the safety beltwinding energy accumulator device of the invention comprises a spiralspring which is fixed to a transmission shaft to be wound up thereby assaid transmission shaft is driven incident to the operation of the dooror by an electric motor, whereby a safety belt winding energy isaccumulated in said spiral spring, which will be released through aclutch to a safety belt winding pulley to draw up the safety belt.Therefore, with the safety belt winding energy accumulator device of theinvention, there can be obtained the advantages that the safety belt isautomatically placed in a position to restrain the body of a passengerwhenever the passenger sits on the seat, even if the passengerinadvertently fails to tighten the safety belt around the body or doesnot wish to take the trouble of such operation, and that the safety beltdoes not interfere with the passenger getting into or out of thevehicle, as the safety belt is cleared from the way of the passenger onsuch occasion by the function of the energy accumulator device.

We claim:

1. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclescomprising a driving source; a rotatable transmission shaft; gear meanstransmitting power of said driving source into said transmission shaft;a spiral spring anchored at its inner end to said transmission shaft andaccumulated with winding energy by the rotation of said shaft; a barreldrum, to which the outer end of said spiral spring is fixedly connected;a belt drawing pulley for winding up a tape connected at it one end to abelt webbing; first clutch means for engaging with said pulley andengaged with said barrel drum; and second one way clutch means arrangedbetween said transmission shaft and said gear means.

2. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 1 wherein said one way clutch means comprises aratchet-pawl mechanism.

3. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 1 which comprises an electric circuit means having afirst solenoid means connected to a door switch and a seat switch tocontrol said first clutch means, said switches being connected to saidelectric circuit means in series therewith.

4. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 1 which comprises an electric circuit means having afirst solenoid means connected to a door switch and a seat switch and adetecting switch for the tape winding connected between said solenoidmeans and said door switch.

5. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 1 which comprises an electric circuit means having asolenoid means connected to, and in series with, a door switch and aseat switch to control said drawing pulley so as to disengage saiddrawing pulley when it is energized by the closing of said door and seatswitches.

6. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 5, wherein a tape rewinding detecting switch isconnected between the solenoid means and the door switch in the electriccircuit means.

7. A safety belt winding energy accumulator for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 4, wherein the tape drawing pulley is provided with aspiral groove on the upper surface thereof and said detecting switchcomprises an actuator lever having an actuator slidably engaging withsaid spiral groove.

8. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 6, wherein the tape rewinding detecting switchcomprises an actuator lever having an actuator slidably engaging with aspiral groove.

1. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclescomprising a driving source; a rotatable transmission shaft; gear meanstransmitting power of said driving source into said transmission shaft;a spiral spring anchored at its inner end to said transmission shaft andaccumulated with winding energy by the rotation of said shaft; a barreldrum, to which the outer end of said spiral spring is fixedly connected;a belt drawing pulley for winding up a tape connected at it one end to abelt webbing; first clutch means for engaging with said pulley andengaged with said barrel drum; and second one way clutch means arrangedbetween said transmission shaft and said gear means.
 2. A safety beltwinding energy accumulator device for use in vehicles according to claim1 wherein said one way clutch means comprises a ratchet-pawl mechanism.3. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use in vehiclesaccording to claim 1 which comprises an electric circuit means having afirst solenoid means connected to a door switch and a seat switch tocontrol said first clutch means, said switches being connected to saidelectric circuit means in series therewith.
 4. A safety belt windingenergy accumulator device for use in vehicles according to claiM 1 whichcomprises an electric circuit means having a first solenoid meansconnected to a door switch and a seat switch and a detecting switch forthe tape winding connected between said solenoid means and said doorswitch.
 5. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use invehicles according to claim 1 which comprises an electric circuit meanshaving a solenoid means connected to, and in series with, a door switchand a seat switch to control said drawing pulley so as to disengage saiddrawing pulley when it is energized by the closing of said door and seatswitches.
 6. A safety belt winding energy accumulator device for use invehicles according to claim 5, wherein a tape rewinding detecting switchis connected between the solenoid means and the door switch in theelectric circuit means.
 7. A safety belt winding energy accumulator foruse in vehicles according to claim 4, wherein the tape drawing pulley isprovided with a spiral groove on the upper surface thereof and saiddetecting switch comprises an actuator lever having an actuator slidablyengaging with said spiral groove.
 8. A safety belt winding energyaccumulator device for use in vehicles according to claim 6, wherein thetape rewinding detecting switch comprises an actuator lever having anactuator slidably engaging with a spiral groove.